Pipe or tube elevator



Sept. 12, 1939. JACK 2,172,908

7 FIRE OR TUBE ELEVATOR Filed June 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A tiorneys Sept. 12, 1939. D. G. JACK I PIPE OR TUBE ELEVATOR Filed June"30, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A itomeys Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE 0R T'UBEI ELEVATOR Application June 30, 1938, Serial No. 216,832

4 Glaims.

This invention relates to what is commonly known in the art as a pipe or tube elevator, that is a device for handling piping, and particularly for raising and lowering well piping.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which will be an improvement, in general, over the types of devices now known or in use, and which at the same time will permit the operator to handle the engaging and disengaging of the device with the tube or piping with one hand leaving the other hand free to be employed as found desirable.

Further, in accordance with the present invention the elevator is so designed and constructed as to withstand and endure the heavy loads of long strings of pipes necessary in deep well drilling.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a front levational view of the ele- Vator with a pipe shown arranged therein and the coupling resting on the top side of the elevator,

the pipe and coupling being shown in broken line, and certain parts of the elevator being broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the elevator with certain parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is an irregular vertical transverse sectional view through the elevator.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a cross arm, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the jaws.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof the elevator comprises a body 5 that is open at one side as at 6 for the engagement and disengagement of the elevator with the well piping by lateral movement of the piping and/or elevator relative to one another; the elevator, as will be noted, being also provided with a through opening for accommodating the well piping. The well piping is suggested by broken line in Figure 1 and indicated by the reference numeral 1, and in Figure 1 the piping is shown arranged within the elevator with the coupling resting on the upper end of the elevator.

Pivoted within the body 5 of the elevator through the medium of pivots 8 are jaws 9 arranged to cooperate for clamping the pipe 1 therebetween. The jaws 9 are provided with rollers l0 arranged as shown for bearing engagement with the pipe 7 and for relief of positive frictional engagement of the jaws with the pipe 1 to insure minimum wear on both the pipe and the elevator.

Upper and lower rollers II are also arranged within the body 5 of the elevator and serve as a protective medium against excessive friction and wear on both the pipe 1 and the elevator.

The jaws are provided with substantially arcuate working surfaces and also with pairs of integral arms 12. Arms l2 at one end are bifurcated to receive the inner rollers H].

The arms I2 support therebetween vertical pins I3 the upper and lower ends of which are journaled in suitable openings l4 provided therefor in the arms.

Pins l3 are provided with arms it which at their free ends are bifurcated as shown in Figure Z|31andpivoted as at Hi to the ends of a cross arm Cross arm I! is provided intermediate its ends with a pair of apertured ears l8 through the medium of which and a pivot bolt Hi the cross arm ll is connected to an arm 20 carried by shaft 2!. A slot 28 is provided in the arm through which the bolt I9 passes, said slot permitting compensating play of the bolt therein under swinging of said arm by the shaft 21.

Shaft 2| has the opposite end portions thereof journaled in bearings 22 provided in opposite side Walls of the body 5 adjacent the closed end of the body as shown in Figure 2. On the outer ends of the shaft 2| are secured split clamps 23 that are formed on the terminals of the legs of a substantially U-shaped handle 24.

Obviously rotative movement of the shaft 2i is transmitted through the medium of arm 26, facilitated by pin l9 and pin l6 located at the extremeties of cross arm l1, governing arms 1 5 with pins l3 to the jaws 9 for swinging the latter on their pivots 8 to open and closed positions.

The jaws 9 are normally urged to slightly open position through the medium of a suitable spring 25 which intermediate its ends is secured by a screw or other fastening element 26 to the arm 20. The respective opposite ends of the spring 25 bear against the end wall of the body 5 as shown in Figure 2.

For releasably securing the jaws in closed position and the arm 29' and associated parts in the position shown in Figure 3, there is provided a spring-pressed latch member 21 that has a working fit in an opening 28 provided in the top wall of the body 5 as shown in Figure 3. The latch member 21 is normally projected downwardly through the medium of a spring 29 to engage a keeper lug 36 provided on the free end of the arm 20 when the arm 20 is in the retracted'position shown in Figure 3.

For raising the latch 21 to release arm 20 and its associated parts, there is pivotally mounted on the end wall of the body 5 as at 3! a trip lever 32 that is provided with an arm 33. Arm 33 extends intothe body through an opening 3 2 provided therefor in the body 5 as shown. At the inner end thereof the member 33 engages a recess 35 provided in one side of the latch 27 for releasably holding the latch in the projected position shown in Figure 3.

Obviously, to release the jaws 9 to permit the same to swing to open position in response to the action of spring 25, the operator presses down on the lever 32. Movement of the lever 32 causes the latch member 21 to move upwardly. out of engagement with the end 30 of arm 20. Arm 20 being thus released will swing in response to the action of spring 25 in a clockwise direction for urging the jaws 9 to open position.

At opposite sides of the opening 6 body 5 is provided with cushioning elements 350 against which the jaws 9 abut when swung to open position.

From the description of the invention thus far it will be seen that with the jaws in open position the device is moved laterally relative to the pipe, or vice versa, for passing the pipe 1 into position between the jaws. Obviously, as the pipe 1 moves into position between the jaws, the pipe will engage the arms l2 of the jaws causing the latter to swing to closed position. As the jaws swing to closed position, arm 20 swings in a counter-clockwise direction to the position shown in Figure 3 for engaging the terminal 30 thereof with the latch 2'! to thereby secure the jaws in closed position and in clamping engagement with the pipe I. With the device thus engaged with the pipe, obviously the latter may be raised or lowered as found desirable.

For engaging the device with the bail eyes 36 of the hoisting and lowering cable (not shown) the body 5 is provided at opposite sides thereof with hooks 31. Each hook 31, as shown, is provided with a latch member 38 that has a lost motion or pin and slot connection 39 withits associated hook 31.

Each latch member 38 at its free end is provided with a hook 40 to engage in an opening 4| provided therefor in an adjacent side wall of the body 5 whereby to hold the member 38 in a position serving to retain the hook 31 engaged with the bail eye 36 of the pull cable as shown in Figure 1.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility, advantages, and operation of a device of this character will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a pipe or tube elevator of the character described, a pair of opposed cooperating pivoted jaws, mechanism connected with the jaws for yieldably urging the jaws to open position and including a rockably mounted shaft, an arm on said shaft and means operatively connecting said arm with the jaws for transmitting movement of the shaft to the jaws, and a latch device mounted in operative position to said arm and including a spring-pressed latch member engageable with the arm for yieldably retaining the latter in a retracted position and the jaws closed, and a spring device acting on said arm in opposition to said latch for normally urging the arm in a direction to move the jaws to open position.

2. In a pipe or tube elevator of the character described, a body having a through opening for accommodating a pipe, and also provided with an opening at one side thereof for lateral passage of the pipe into the body, a pair of cooperating jaws pivoted within the body and adapted to close into clamping engagement with the pipe,

a shaft rotatably mounted in the body, an arm on said shaft, mechanism operatively connecting the arm with the jaws for transmitting movement of the shaft to the jaws for opening and closing the latter, a spring device connected with said arm and bearing against a wall of the body for .normally urging the arm in a direction tending to move the jaws to open position, and a springpres'sed latch member slidably mounted on a wall of the body and arranged in the path of said arm and engageable with the arm for releasably holding the arm and shaft against rotation and the jaws in normally closed position.

3. In a pipe or tube elevator of the character described, a body having a through opening for accommodating a pipe, and also provided with an opening at one side thereof for lateral passage of the pipe into the body, a pair of cooperating jaws pivoted within the body and adapted to close into clamping engagement with the pipe, a shaft rotatably mounted in the body, an arm on said shaft, mechanism operatively connecting the arm with the jaws for transmitting movement of the shaft to the jaws for opening and closing the latter, a spring device connected with said arm and bearing against a wall of the body for normally urging the arm in a direction tending to move the jaws to open position, and a springpressed latch member slidably mounted on a wall of the body and arranged in the path of said arm and engageable with the arm for releasably holding the arm and shaft against rotation and the jaws in normally closed position, handle means connected with said shaft for manually rotating the latter, and a manually operated latch release device mounted on the body and engaging the latch for moving the latter to a retracted position out of the path of said arm.

4. In a pipe or tube elevator of the character described, a body having a through opening for accommodating a pipe, and also provided with an opening at one side thereof for lateral passage of the pipe into the body, a pair of cooperating jaws pivoted within the body and adapted to close into clamping engagement with the pipe, a shaft rotatably mounted in the body, an arm on said shaft, mechanism operatively connecting the arm with the jaws for transmitting movement of the shaft to the jaws for opening and closing the latter, a spring device connected with said arm and bearing against a wall of the body for normally urging the arm in a direction tending to move the jaws to open position, and a spring-pressed latch member slidably mounted on a wall of the body and arranged in the path of said arm and engageable with the arm for releasably holding the arm and shaft against rotation and the jaws in normally closed position, handle means connected with said shaft for manually rotating the latter, and a manually operated latch release device mounted on the body and engaging the latch for moving the latter to a retracted position out of the path of said arm, said body being also provided at opposite sides thereof with integral hooks for engaging the eyes of a hoisting cable, and latch means pivotally connected at one end thereof with the hooks and having end portions engaging with adjacent walls of the body for substantially closing the open sides of the hooks to retain the hooks in engagement with the pull cable.

DAVID GARDNER J ACK. 

